Toxicology Results Negative for Alcohol and Drugs in Fatal Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

The toxicology results have been released by the Marshall County Coroner’s Office and Coroner Bill Cleveanger said in the case of Richard Dennis III, alcohol and drugs were not a factor in accident that claimed his Dennis’ life on January 3rd.

On January 3rd, police say Richard Dennis III was traveling westbound on 9th Road, just east of Quince Road when he encountered a set of railroad tracks. He didn’t slow or stop at the tracks and went over the incline and over the tracks at a high rate of speed. The road conditions were slick at time and Dennis reportedly lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. He was killed upon impact. State Police are investigating reports that Dennis may have been involved in a hit and run accident in Plymouth shortly before the fatal crash. The accident remains under investigation with the Marshall County Coroner’s Office and the Indiana State Police.

Accident West of Plymouth Claims Life of Starke County Man

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was killed in a single vehicle car accident last night.

Marshall County Coroner Bill Cleavenger said that 28-year-old Richard Lee Dennis was traveling westbound on 9th Road, just east of Quince Road when he encountered a set of railroad tracks. Cleavenger said it appeared that he didn’t slow or stop at the railroad tracks and went over the incline and over the tracks at a high rate of speed. The road conditions were slick at time and Dennis reportedly lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. He was killed upon impact. Emergency personnel extricated his body from the vehicle and cleared the scene. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and Plymouth Police Department were assisted by the Indiana State Police Reconstruction Team.

Toxicology results are pending.

Knox CVS Robbed

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox CVS

The identity of a suspect arrested in connection with the robbery at CVS in Knox last night is still being withheld by Knox City Police.

Knox City Police responded to an armed robbery call at CVS at 9:18 p.m. An officer saw a vehicle leaving the scene at a high rate of speed and a traffic stop was initiated. The driver stopped, then backed into the police cruiser in an attempt to disable the vehicle. A pursuit began which lead into Marshall County. Both suspects abandoned the vehicle on Upas Road in Marshall County and one suspect was arrested. No further information was released by the Knox City Police Department and the robbery remains under investigation.

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Plymouth Man Pleads Not Guilty to Eight Charges in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Dale Hite

A Plymouth resident plead not guilty to eight charges in an incident that occurred in Starke County on October 16th, 2009.

Dale Hite appeared for his initial hearing in Starke Circuit Court Monday morning where he plead not guilty to two counts of Resisting Law Enforcement Resulting in Death, two counts of Reckless Homicide, and one count each of Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign and Failure to use Headlights from Sunset to Sunrise. His bond was set at $100,000 surety.

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Former Starke County Woman Found Murdered in Rochester Home

Posted on Author WKVI

A former Starke County woman was found murdered at her home in Rochester.

Indiana State Police officers responded to 6832 W. Olson Road where the owners of the residence reported a possible murder. The residents came home from work and reportedly found a rear door to the house open. Police say the owners found Wilma Upsall’s body on the floor of the residence and investigators say she was shot and died from her injuries. An autopsy will determine an exact cause of death.

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Two Arrested after Police Find Meth Labs

Posted on Author WKVI
Traci Jacobs
Richard Warner

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department arrested two after one pot method meth labs were found in a residence in North Judson on Thursday.

Officers received information about the whereabouts of Traci Jacobs who was wanted on two warrants for Failure to Appear. A detective from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department contacted the bonds company and sent agents to 6190 S. 250 W. in North Judson. The agents said that they had Jacobs in custody as well as Richard Warner, of North Judson. They also notified the Sheriff’s Department that there were several pop bottles in the bedroom closet that appeared to be one pot meth labs.

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LaPorte Man Arrested after State Police Find Drugs in Motel Room

Posted on Author WKVI
These items were collected from the bust at a LaPorte motel

A LaPorte man was arrested Tuesday after Indiana State Police received a tip about illegal drug activity.

State Police Troopers were called to a motel on State Road 39 in LaPorte County. During the course of the investigation, a K9 was utilized and 3.2 pounds of marijuana was located. Drug paraphernalia and $1,917 was also located in a rented room and a vehicle.

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Wanatah Woman Jailed on 20 Counts of Child Molestation

Posted on Author WKVI

A Wanatah woman was arrested Thursday on 20 Class B Felony counts of Child Molestation.

An ongoing criminal investigation by the Indiana State Police found that Tara Tryon, 21, allegedly molested a three-year-old child.  The Indiana State Department of Child Services and the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department reportedly received this information which initiated the investigation.

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Two Injured after Semi Hits Car on I-65

Posted on Author WKVI
This semi caught fire after it hit a vehicle parked on the shoulder on I-65

An Indiana State Police Trooper responded to a two vehicle crash, yesterday evening, that sent two people to the hospital when they decided to park their vehicle partially in the traveled portion of I-65 with no lights on.

The investigation revealed that Anthony Johnson of Chicago pulled his vehicle over to the shoulder near the 230 mile marker, just south of the Demotte exit, because his vehicle started to smoke. ]After Johnson stopped and parked his car partially in the left lane of I-65 he did not activate his hazard lights. He and his passenger, Roseanne T. Barron of West Lafayette, Indiana, then got out of the car to see what was wrong with it.

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Marshall County Jail Inmate Dies

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the Marshall County Coronor’s Office are investigating the death of Marshall County Jail inmate, Georgia M. Onofre.

The 35-year-old woman was in a special observation area in the jail due to her past medical history and was under constant surveillance by jail staff. She became unresponsive around 4:00 a.m. ET yesterday morning and jail staff immediately started resuscitation efforts. Plymouth paramedics transported Onofre to the Emergency Department where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

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Indiana State Police to Participate in Operation Pull Over Blitz

Posted on Author WKVI

Indiana State Police will join more than 260 Indiana law enforcement agencies to crackdown on impaired drivers. The campaign continues through September 5th.

Troopers from the Lowell Post will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint sometime this weekend in Porter County. Troopers will also be conducting saturation patrols targeting impaired drivers through September 5th.

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Knox School Board Discusses State Bus Inspection

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Board learned the results of the recent Indiana State Police bus inspection. Superintendent A.J. Gappa has the report:

“Once again, all of our buses have passed inspection. Mr. Jensen and Mr. Croft at the bus barn do a good job of keeping the buses updated. All of our buses are ready to go and that’s a good thing for the corporation,” said Gappa.

Gappa said more buses are going to be added to the fleet.

“We plan on keeping all the current buses and we have one ordered that should be in later this Fall. It will be one of the larger buses. We’re also anticipating possibly buying another minibus to add to the fleet,” Gappa said.

New Troopers Assigned to State Police Posts

Posted on Author WKVI
Ryan Hovarter

Forty-three probationary troopers from the 70th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy were issued their state police cars recently at the Indiana State Police garage located at the Indiana State Police Indianapolis District. Five of the troopers have been assigned to the Lowell Post, including Ryan Hovarter from Starke County. Hovarter has been assigned to work Porter and LaPorte Counties.

Other probationary troopers assigned to the post are Corey Dupuy from Jasper County, Davonne Barlow from Lake County, Danielle Elwood from Whitley County, and Brandon Henderson from DuPage County, Illinois.

Thieves Hit Medaryville Marathon Station

Posted on Author WKVI

A burglary occurred at the Marathon Station in Medaryville on Sunday, June 5th.

The power had gone out in the store late Saturday and the store was forced to close. At approximately 1:30 a.m. ET, an employee drove around the store to check on it and all doors were secured. The store manager arrived at the business about four hours later and discovered the west door had been kicked open. The suspect(s) went into the cash register area and forced open a change box, but no money was reported missing. After a preliminary inventory check, it was found that seven to eight cartons of cigarettes were stolen, seven or eight 24 pack cases of beer were stolen along with an unknown amount of alcohol.

The police continue to investigate this incident. An Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technician was called to investigate the scene. If you know anything about this incident, call the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and leave an anonymous tip at (574) 946-6655. The case has been turned over to Pulaski County investigations and the Medaryville Police Department.

Operation Pull Over Campaign to Begin May 20th

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana State Police, including the Lowell District troopers that cover Starke, Pulaski, Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper Counties, will be joining 250 other law enforcement agencies in the state in an effort to reduce injuries and fatalities by participating in the Operation Pull Over, Blitz 67, “Click it or Ticket” campaign. Troopers are able to perform extra patrols during the Memorial Day holiday travel period thanks to federal funds.

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Bremen Troopers Honored with Awards

Posted on Author WKVI
Keith Bikowski and ISP Superintendent Paul Whitesell

The Indiana State Police held its annual awards and recognition ceremony Tuesday in Indianapolis.  The ceremony honored and recognized individuals from around the State for their dedication to service, bravery and devotion to the department and the citizens of Indiana.

Robert Murray

Trooper Keith Bikowski received the “Trooper of the District Award” for the Bremen Post for his outstanding service to North Central Indiana.  Bikowski has been an officer with the State Police since 2007.  Robert Murray received the Life Award for the Bremen District for his commitment in removing impaired drivers from Indiana roadways.  This is the third year that Murray has earned the distinction.  Murray has served the State since his appointment in 1996.